Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom in any way shape or form. If I did? Oh, the things I could do….

This Chapter Contains the Following: Just read at your own risk, got it?

A/N: Here's where it picks up. Chapter three, long awaited, and long put off. Nothing much to say, other than I was lazy, and enjoy. Forgive not, for nothing is to be forgiven.

Laughter echoed out everywhere, bouncing off the walls to make the room seem smaller than it really was. It was quiet, almost too much so, but that was alright with him. His fingers tapped upon the little orb, it felt of glass. The image shimmered slightly at his touch, getting fuzzy before focusing in again.

He would come out soon. It seemed almost too perfect, even now. He'd make it seem just like the nightmares that haunted the young Halfling ghost. He'd make it blood, make sure the young boy heard every little sound, and saw everything little part. He wanted that. He did. Wanted to watch them all squirm, because they thought everything was okay.

Crazy, maybe. That thought always came back to him. And, maybe it was the reason everything was happening the way it did. He couldn't remember the last sane thought he had, well, with such a fuzzy past, he wasn't exactly sure how it all happened. His memories were being affected. How good. Insanity was surely one of the factors within this.

He took in a deep sigh, watching the figure in the orb walk faster, everything seeming gray, and then stood. He walked over, boots making clicking sounds on the floor, more echoes in the silence. He smiled kindly, kneeling down and took hold of the dead ghost's chin, making the head turn up, dull red eyes, big and wide, staring up into his bright red. He almost wished they were alive again, just to see the expression…

"Well now, I hate to leave, but there is business I must take care of." His eyes flickered back to the orb, the boy now climbing a hill. "To bad you won't be here to save him again." He leaned in, close, and could smell the dead and decay consuming the body. He'd always found it sort of odd how the twice dead could smell. Oh well. They'd be gone soon. "It's been fun."

He stood, laughing, the sound thick and heavy in the air. "I'll be sure to give him your best wishes. Bye."

And then, disappeared, leaving behind the dead and laughter and in the air.

Chapter 3: Second Chanced Mistakes

"If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner."

Raining. Gray. Everything.

Back against a tree and his head tilted to the sky, Danny sat, soaking wet, cold, just watching the rain come down. He was shaking, but not because of the chill nipping at his skin. His breath was still uneven. Black hair was falling, sticking to his face. His blue eyes, heavy with sleep, fear, and everything else, hung half closed.

The clouds looked pretty, for some reason. All big and gray. When it rained, it felt like you didn't have to do anything. You could just disappear and sleep or not exist and no one would care to find you, because they were doing the same thing. It showed the world's really colors, making everything look darker than it really was. Gray was seeping into everything. Even the grass seemed…dead.

He was sitting on one of the hills in the park. His hands were grasping the grass, and his heart was still pounding too hard to be safe. He was too young to have a heart attack.

Danny didn't know what to do. He just didn't know what to do anymore. The problem was, there was nothing to be afraid of. They were only nightmares. Dreams. They wouldn't-- couldn't --come true, because, well, that's all they were, was dreams. He was losing sleep and losing his mind over them, what for? Dark Danny-- he was gone, for good, and not coming back. The moment where he changed is over, and everyone's safe and so is he. There is nothing to be afraid of. So why…

The teen sighed, letting his head fall back against the hard tree, and the painful edges of bark digging into his head only were there to remind him that he was actually here. He was questioning his own reality now? Well, goodie to that. He was sure every fifteen year old did that these days. It felt like he was having a panic attack, and probably was.

Someone would come and find him sooner or later. A kid doesn't just walk out of school without everyone knowing. Sam and Tucker would surely be here as soon as the last bell rang, though they might be a little too late if his parents can stop being ghost hunters long enough to take the school's call and act like parents to find him. Jazz would be in their wake, coming to give him the "I'm here, you can talk to me." talk, like she knows everything. And maybe she does, seeing as she will be going to college next year for psychology. He's always been her test dummie.

He was still staring at the sky, gray with puffs of black here and there. There was no thunder or lightning, just the constant down pour. Another sigh, and he lifted a hand in the air to catch the rain.

"What am I doing wrong?" He said, voice seeming like a whisper in the wind. Danny wasn't talking to anyone, but wished that someone would answer him. It would make everything a lot easier, because he didn't know the answers, and probably never would. "Why is it that everything seems so…" And he couldn't finish that sentence. "Am I…supposed to be doing this? Or is it, I'm just paving the way…I don't want them too…"

It was a strange feeling, really, when you can't put your thoughts out in the open. He wanted to know if it was safe. If what everything he was doing was right and wouldn't cause something bad, because he didn't have to do it. He didn't have to be the superhero everyone counted on. He was fifteen and can't even remember the last time he did something that didn't relate to ghost fighting. He could tell his parents. He could. They were right all along, about ghosts and everything else, even when people laughed at them. They would understand, and they could destroy the portal. And Vlad, well, he could think of something. Danny was sure he could somehow get the man to destroy his portal, somehow… so they he wouldn't have to fight anymore. He didn't have to be a ghost boy and everything would turn out alright. He didn't have to destroy the world. He wouldn't--

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" He shook his head, grabbing at his hair and pulling it, almost afraid it was too hard. It would never happen. He could never do that. It doesn't work like that. Life isn't that easy. And when you're a superhero, good things normally don't come your way. You have to make them, work for them. It's just the way things worked. "Like that would ever happen...besides, who am I without the ghosts?" There was just too many thoughts all at once. He couldn't answer them all.

"That's right, Danny, who are you without me?"

That wasn't his voice. Or rather it was but--

He stopped breathing. Stopped thinking. Every part of his body went cold, and it wasn't because of the rain. His heart, he could hear it, pumping blood in his ears, and it felt too much like those movie moments were everything just stands still. He didn't want to. Couldn't. But he still…

His head was turning on it's own. He just needed to see. Because he wasn't dream. He wasn't asleep. The tree was still digging into his head and the pain was reassuring himself that this was real. He pushed harder into the trees bark, just to be sure. It felt like he was in a horror movie, facing off with Freddy Kruger in a bad nightmare, because that's all this could be. A nightmare. He was sleeping (the pain). He had to be (didn't shut his eye). It would just be too much if that stupid voice (real) was actually--

"Nice to see you again, Danny."

There. Arms crossed, a cocky smile, leaning against the tree he sat under not three feet away from reaching distance. It looked as if he should be doing that every day, just standing around as if it was normal. It was almost humorous, laughable, if not for the fact that Danny still couldn't breathe and his pulse was a few beats above deadly.

"What? Surprised?" The voice was just as cold as ever, and the bright red eyes, made even brighter with the dark rims, seemed just as amused as they should be. "Why, you haven't moved at all. Not even the jump to turn into something worthy of being punched."

And why wasn't he going Phantom?! Why the hell wasn't he moving?! Because he actually couldn't move. He didn't remember how, and those eyes--

He felt like crying or screaming or doing something, but he just couldn't. He knew how pathetic he looked, because he could see his own reflection in the deep red of his other half, and he was looking at his eyes! Why wasn't he looking away or running or fighting or something!? Fear. Scared. Petrified. It made him think about dear in the head lights, what they might be thinking right before the car comes, can't slow down, and crushes it. Doomed. Death. Like, maybe this was the end, and the dear was okay with that. That's why they didn't move.

He wasn't okay with it. He wasn't okay at all. There was this ringing in his ears, and the tiny voice that most people say comes when you can't think straight wasn't there for him. He could hear it now, their cries and screams, and every little pop as he rips her apart.

"NO!"

A jump and scream with white lights, rings, but it wasn't fast enough. Dark Danny was waiting, he had to have been ready, and before Danny could do anything but blink, and he was shoved back, pinned against the tree and a bolt went though his body, making it spasm and the white rings die down, leaving him as Danny Fenton. Hands down at his sides, the grip on them would surely leave bruises.

"Hm…" The voice was close, and he refused to open his eyes. Refused, because he already knew what demon he would be staring at. Faces close, so close. It was hurting him. Hurting in all the wrong ways that he wishes to go away. He could feel the cold ghost's breath against his face when he spoke. Cold. It was sending shivers up his spin. "I think you've been slacking off. I mean, really." It sounded almost casual. "Come on now," He was pulled up only to be slammed back against the tree, harder than needed. "Open your eyes!"

It was a demand. So he listened. Coward.

There was a smile with sharp teeth, satisfaction was laced within it. It stung.

"You're not here." His voice was shaking and soft, cracking here and there, and he knew just how pathetic it was, but really couldn't care, because his worst nightmare was coming true. "This isn't happening. We took care of you!" His words were more to reassure himself than anything else, but it still wasn't working, even if his voice was getting higher as he spoke. "Clockwork--"

"Won't save you this time."

And this made his voice catch in his throat, and his heart stop, blood running cold. There was no lie in the older man's voice, maybe even too much of the truth.

Danny's eyes went slanted slightly, searching and praying for some sort of mistake to appear in his darker half's own eyes. He couldn't find anything except that damned satisfaction. He was right, and knowing that already felt like failure.

"What did you--"

The hands on his arms squeezed, nails digging deeper into his T-shirt, the cotton much to thin to protect him. A hiss caught off his words, making his head jerk to the side. Puncture holes and bruises now.

"I did exactly what you would have done, Danny." It was a mock. And the other knew it stung too deep. "You shouldn't seem so…surprised. Did you really think it would be that easy? Just lock me up and go on living like everything was okay?"

"That's what I was hoping." Voiced through clenched teeth.

"Ah, but you see! It can't be that easy! It just never is! And guess what?" Dark Danny leaned in, lips right next to his ear, almost brushing it, with cold shots of air every time he exhaled. More shivers down his spin. "I'm still here. And do you know what that means?"

He wouldn't think about it, but all the images from his dreams ran through his mind. Blood. Lots of blood with laughter in the background and fire and screams, because he couldn't save them. He couldn't because he was the one doing it. Him. No. No. No. No. "No. No. No."

It was starting to be a chant, and the teen didn't even realize he was saying it aloud until there was a deep chuckle that shook his body, right next to his ear. He didn't even know his eyes were closed again until he opened them.

"That's right. This means that you still let them all die, because I'm still here. I still win."

He felt on fire than. Like something just burst and he closed his eyes once more, for a second, before opening them again, and they were glowing green. He screamed and pushed the ghost off of him, transforming at the same time. Dark Danny didn't go far just went back a few yards before floating in the air, arms crossed and looking as smug as ever.

Danny now Phantom had his fists curled tight, glowing the same color as his eyes. He was shaking and was scared, but couldn't just sit there and listen to anything anymore. His mental state was bad enough. And everything around him seemed to shatter even more.

"I'm not going to. Not letting you win. Ever. I'm not going to be you!" He yelled, shooting off an energy blast into the sky.

Dark Danny dodged it with ease and just chuckled some more, shaking his head. "Temper, temper, Danny." And then was gone, reappearing right behind Danny to kick him square in the back.

Everything was getting to him. Everything that wasn't right, because it was easier to find the wrongs in everything than the rights, and there was nothing right about everything that was happening here. Everything was wrong. He couldn't think straight, and was just fighting with anger, fear, and instinct. Not very good when it came to Dark Danny. He was everything Danny was and wasn't, and he knew all his moves. He knew everything and there was no winning with him.

The kick made him fall to his knees, a kick to his ribs sent him down on his side, coughing and breath heavily, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. A bright green glow gave his skin a shadowed, sickly look. Ready for attack. And he wasn't moving again.

"You make a lot of false promises, you know that right?" There was a stinging in his arm, making him scream out, because Dark Danny was grabbing his arm which still held his own plasma blast. The older male slammed (threw) him against the tree again, arm over his head and the grip almost bone shattering. "You see, there is no winning with me. I'll always be here." So close again, so cold. "Always."

And there was another shock of electricity down his spin, this one even worse than the first, and it made his spin feel optional as he arched up and cried out. It made his whole body go fuzzy with pins and needles, and he closed his eyes, tired and in pain, as the white rings came down, turning him human once more. Human. Pathetic. And that's exactly what Dark was saying.

"You are. And you know it. Can't even save--"

"DANNY!"

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

His eyes went wide with panic, and he wanted to struggle free, but he couldn't move. His darker half cocked an eyebrow, turning towards where the voices were coming from, down the hill. Sam and Tucker. Was school out already? And of course they would know where he would be, because they're smarter than him and know exactly where to find him all the time. He wished they couldn't.

"Please. No." He whispered, not getting the strength to actually cry. Not again.

There was a smirk that showed off teeth and eyes that showed an insanity he couldn't even comprehend. "Oh, goodie. The friends have arrived. It'll make it so much easier on me. I won't have to find them now…"

"No! Stop! Don't touch them!" His voice was panicked and his heart was quickening again.

A voice wouldn't do anything. Just a simple beg? No. Dark Danny wanted blood. He grinned, other hand glowing.

"No! God, don't. I'm begging you. Anything. Anything but that." More dream images. More dead bodies. His friends. Family. All dead. Because of him.

"Anything? What could you possible give that would be better than them?" He nodded towards the oncoming pair, still unaware that anything was wrong.

Danny's eyes darted back and forth franticly, trying to think long enough to actually get an idea. A way to get out of this. How to save them, because no one else will. "I--" Anything. He needs something! "I'll--" The hand was raised, deadly and glowing. They were coming closer, their voices coming louder up the hill. Up the hill to a death. Death and it would be his fault! His fault! HIS! "ME!" He screamed, lungs heaving.

This got the man's attention. He got a sort of curious look, deviled and evil. "Oh?"

"Yes. Spare them, and you can have me. Anything you want." He didn't even know what he was saying now, because it wasn't his brain that was talking, it was just his mouth moving. "Anything and I'll do it. I swear."

This got a pleased look. Very pleased. Another smirk. "Anything I want?"

He nodded.

"Perfect."

And he screamed, because another shock came, strong and it was burning him from the inside out. He didn't even know the other had let go until there was a sharp pain as he made contacted with the ground. Everything was blurry. Blurry and fading.

"I'll be back. I promise you that." The voice was right in his ear, cold and then something wet. Shivers. He didn't want to think about what it was. Wet and long and it went into his ear, making his whole body shake with…something.

And than nothing. Nothing at all. He was cold and wet and left in the rain steaming and in pain, not knowing what he had actually just did, or what had happened. All there was was an image in his head of all his nightmares, and this bleak future that he couldn't see. A mistake was all his mind could make out. Something…

Voices and nothing. Dark.

He passed out.

A/N: I've been thinking hard on how I want this to turn out. It took me a few months to get it right. I want this to matter, somehow, not to you people, but to me, because Danny Phantom was one of my favorite shows, and then it was gone. I've grown a grudge for Butch Hartman, I have. I hate him for what he did. He canceled it to try and work on a show that didn't have a real story plot and could go on forever. Danny Phantom at least had something to follow. And he didn't even try with the last episode. It wasn't suppose to end like that.

So that's what I'm writing. How I've always pictured Danny Phantom to end, even if it's not the PG show we all know and love. This is something I wanted to watch. If I had the rights to make the last episode, like I wanted it, I would. But I don't. I love Hartman for his creation, and hate him for the death. So, these may be his characters and his show, but he gave it up when he decided to cancel it. He decided it wasn't good enough to actually finish the right way, so I'll do it for him.